For many people, buying a camera isn’t an easy thing to do. It’s not really a one-model-fits-all kind of product, so there’s not just a single camera you can point to and say, “Buy this!”
In fact, it’s the opposite; with such a range of types, sizes, features, and prices, unless you know your exact needs, you could very well end up disappointed with your purchase. And that’s what this guide is all about: Helping you make the best camera purchase for your needs and budget.[break]
The most important stuff
1. There is no spec that tells you which camera is best. A higher resolution (i.e., more megapixels) or bigger zoom range doesn’t make the camera better. I’ll repeat: you’re never looking for the camera with the most megapixels or longest zoom.
2. Don’t get hung up on making sure you’ve got the “best” in a particular class. The truth is one camera rarely beats the rest on all four major criteria -- photo quality, performance, features, and design. At least not at a friendly price. You want something best for you. And that may mean, for example, that it doesn’t produce stellar photo quality, or at least photos that pixel peepers think are stellar quality.
3. Try before you buy. Make sure it fits comfortably in your hand and that it’s not so big or heavy that you’ll leave it at home. It should provide quick access to the most commonly used functions, and menus should be simply structured, logical, and easy to learn. Touch-screen models can allow for greater functionality, but can also be frustrating if the controls and menus are poorly organized or the screen can’t be calibrated to your touch.
What type of camera?
Point and shoot: For anyone who wants something that’s a step up from a camera phone.
Compact megazoom: Those who want a step up from a camera phone but frequently can’t get close enough to get the photograph that’s wanted.
Megazoom: People who want one camera that can shoot both close-ups and players’ faces from the nosebleed seats.
Entry-level dSLR: Anyone who wants better speed and quality than a compact and prefers shooting using an optical viewfinder.
Pro dSLR: For people who need a reliable, durable, fully configurable and consistent camera that delivers best- quality images and perhaps fast action-shooting level performance.
Key Specs:Resolution
Generally referred to in megapixels, this number tells you how many pixels the camera uses to produce an image. Every modern camera has more than enough for any need. That’s why it’s not important as a spec. In fact, watch out for cheap cameras with high resolutions -- they usually lack the processing power to deal with the large images, which can slow them down.
Image stabilization (IS)
This is what keeps your photos from displaying camera shake. There are two physical types: in-camera sensor shift and in-lens optical. Cheaper cameras may have electronic IS, which uses a combination of fast shutter speed and higher ISO sensitivities to help with motion blur. Unfortunately, this increases image noise and is less effective in low lighting.
Battery life and type
Most cameras use lithium ion rechargeable battery packs. While they offer greater battery life than readily available AA -- size batteries, they are generally designed for a specific make or model of camera. When buying a camera, check out how many shots its battery has been rated for.
Video
For typical videos, you want 1080/30p - “1080” refers to 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution, also referred to as Full HD, whereas “30p” stands for 30fps progressive video. Video recording also has a bit rate, the amount of data it encodes per second of video; for this, higher is generally better.
Wi-Fi
A few years ago, digital cameras with built-in Wi-Fi didn’t make much sense. The main function is still to wirelessly transfer photos and videos off the camera, but new models can back up straight to cloud services or networked computers as well as connect directly to a mobile device, so you can view, transfer, and edit shots, and then upload to sharing sites over your devices mobile broadband. Some models use Wi-Fi to remotely control the camera, too, using your mobile device’s display as a viewfinder.
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